Florida Senate - 2017                             CS for SB 1668
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability;
       and Senators Perry and Artiles
       
       
       
       
       585-03373-17                                          20171668c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the use of state funds; amending s.
    3         112.061, F.S.; providing a limitation on actual
    4         expenses of certain lodging that may be reimbursed for
    5         a state agency or judicial branch employee;
    6         authorizing an employee to expend his or her own funds
    7         on lodging expenses that exceed a specified amount;
    8         amending s. 286.27, F.S.; prohibiting the use of state
    9         funds to purchase alcoholic beverages and to purchase
   10         food or beverages for certain state agency
   11         appreciation or recognition events; providing an
   12         effective date.
   13          
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15  
   16         Section 1. Present paragraph (c) of subsection (6) of
   17  section 112.061, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
   18  (d), paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of that section is amended,
   19  and a new paragraph (c) is added to that subsection, to read:
   20         112.061 Per diem and travel expenses of public officers,
   21  employees, and authorized persons.—
   22         (6) RATES OF PER DIEM AND SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE.—For
   23  purposes of reimbursement rates and methods of calculation, per
   24  diem and subsistence allowances are provided as follows:
   25         (a) All travelers shall be allowed for subsistence when
   26  traveling to a convention or conference or when traveling within
   27  or outside the state in order to conduct bona fide state
   28  business, which convention, conference, or business serves a
   29  direct and lawful public purpose with relation to the public
   30  agency served by the person attending such meeting or conducting
   31  such business, either of the following for each day of such
   32  travel at the option of the traveler:
   33         1. Eighty dollars per diem; or
   34         2. If actual expenses exceed $80, the amounts permitted in
   35  paragraph (b) for subsistence, plus actual expenses for lodging
   36  at a single-occupancy rate, except as provided in paragraph (c),
   37  to be substantiated by paid bills therefor.
   38  
   39  When lodging or meals are provided at a state institution, the
   40  traveler shall be reimbursed only for the actual expenses of
   41  such lodging or meals, not to exceed the maximums maximum
   42  provided for in this subsection.
   43         (c) Actual expenses for lodging associated with the
   44  attendance of an employee of a state agency or the judicial
   45  branch at a meeting, conference, or convention organized or
   46  sponsored in whole or in part by a state agency or the judicial
   47  branch may not exceed $150 per day. However, an employee may
   48  expend his or her own funds for any lodging expenses that exceed
   49  $150 per day.
   50         Section 2. Section 286.27, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   51  read:
   52         286.27 Prohibited uses Use of state funds for greeting
   53  cards prohibited.—No State funds may not shall be expended for:
   54         (1) The purchase, preparation, printing, or mailing of any
   55  card the sole purpose of which is to convey holiday greetings.
   56         (2) The purchase of alcoholic beverages.
   57         (3) The purchase of food or beverages for events related to
   58  state agency employee, board member, or vendor appreciation or
   59  recognition.
   60         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.